Odds slashed on a white Christmas

Bookmakers have slashed the odds on a White Christmas after forecasters predicted that an icy blast will sweep the country this week.

Temperatures are expected to fall below freezing in most parts by the end of the week, with widespread sleet and snow.

Some areas have already been affected by bad weather, with floods and snow hitting the West Country and temperatures of minus 13c in northern Scotland.

Last night, the Met Office said there was a 30 per cent chance of snow falling in London on Christmas Day, with the likelihood doubling in the North.

The chances of snow in Manchester and Liverpool was 40 per cent, rising to 60 per cent in Newcastle, Carlisle and Scotland.

National forecaster Andy Bodenham said: 'Although there is still a full week to go, we think the chances of it snowing will rise the further North you go.

'There is a rather cold scenario for this week. It does look, as we go into Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, that we are in for very cold conditions in places with sleet and snow arriving from the North-West.

'The worst is likely to be the North-West, Scotland, Ireland and Wales but it will also spread South and East to affect other parts of England.

'Higher ground will be the likeliest place for snow to settle but even the cities, where it is always warmer, might see more than the odd flake.'

For the first time in 25 years, bookmakers William Hill have made a White Christmas

odds-on. It has cut the odds of snow falling in Glasgow from 7-4 to 8-11 and for Aberdeen from 7-4 to 5-6. For London, the odds have shortened from 5-1 to 11-4.

Ladbrokes has cut its odds on snow in Glasgow from 2-1 to 8-11 and in London from 4-1 to 11-4.

The last White Christmas was in 2001, with snow falling over Northern and Western areas of Britain.

For it to be official, a flake of snow must be observed at a city's specified airport or weather centre between midnight on December 24 and midnight on December 25.

The snow can be mixed with rain and does not have to settle on the ground.

Icy winds, heavy snow and rain brought chaos to parts of the UK at the weekend, with the South West particularly badly affected.

Around 20 homes and shops were evacuated in Braunton, near Barnstaple, Devon, when the River Caen burst its banks in the early hours yesterday. Almost 24 hours of rainfall, followed by the first snowfall of the winter, caused extensive flooding across the north of the county.

Heavy snow falls covered much of Wales and the Cotswolds overnight and there was a lighter covering across the top of the Pennines.

Temperatures fell sharply in northern Scotland, with Kinbrace in the Highlands hitting minus 13c overnight.

The wintry blast is the result of an area of low pressure moving in from the west over the southern half of the UK.

Paul Knightly, of PA Weather-Centre, said most areas will experience heavy rain, cold nights and frosty mornings in the run-up to Christmas.

'It certainly seems there will be a cold spell in the run-up to Christmas and, although it is a bit too early to say, I wouldn't rule out a white Christmas,' he added.

The last decade has seen widespread snow at Christmas five times in the UK, compared with only once during the previous 20 years. Many will be fleeing the cold snap by spending Christmas abroad.

More than two million are expected to join the getaway, with 400,000 leaving on the busiest day tomorrow.

Mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands and the Canaries are among the most popular destinations, along with Florida and the Caribbean.

Most are predicted to return during the week after Christmas to spend New Year in the UK.